The Center for Talent Development
Center for Talent Development
Outreach & Events

Center for Talent Development (CTD) aspires to affect educational policy in a positive way and to educate the public about giftedness. Through outreach and advocacy efforts, CTD informs parents, teachers and school personnel about the characteristics and needs of gifted learners and empowers them with the knowledge and confidence necessary for meeting those needs successfully.

Here, you’ll find information on CTD’s annual family conference, fall conference for educators, Gifted Education Institute, Saturday parent seminars and special events. Also, for those of you who run your own school or program for gifted students and would like to share the information with CTD contacts, you might want to consider our label rental services.

You might also be interested in the Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy's new master's degree program in gifted education. 
 

Annual Family Conference

Each summer, Center for Talent Development hosts an enriching and informative afternoon event designed to guide gifted students and their families in making wise educational decisions. Parents hear from professors, psychologists, school administrators and businesspeople on diverse topics ranging from gifted children’s needs to saving for college. Students in PreK through grade 3 enjoy an afternoon of games and activities, while students in grades 4 through 12 attend mini-classes presenting fascinating applications of their favorite subjects and introducing them to various career paths. Educators who attend can earn professional development units.

View the >2009 brochure  for samples of sessions. Information for the 2010 conference will be available in the upcoming months.

 

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Saturday Parent Seminars
Meeting the needs of students is an important goal, but at Center for Talent Development we recognize that parents of gifted children have needs, too. Parents often have questions about how to support and encourage their children and help them reach their potential. This is why we offer free, interactive Parent Seminars in Evanston, Gurnee and Naperville, Illinois. By featuring a range of speakers and experts on topics related to giftedness, CTD empowers parents to play an active and informed role in ensuring the best education for their children.

Visit the Parent Seminar Schedule for information on upcoming seminar dates, topics and speakers. Seminars run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays.

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Gifted Education Institute
If you’re seeking a comprehensive overview of gifted education, you’ll find it at the Gifted Education Institute, occurring each summer on the Evanston, Illinois, campus of Northwestern University.

By the end of the course, participants are able to do the following:
  • understand the breakthroughs and trends in the history of gifted education and research;
  • recognize and dispel myths associated with gifted education;
  • understand the intellectual, social and emotional characteristics of gifted students;
  • develop an understanding of the process used for the identification of gifted students;
  • understand the different program options available for gifted children;
  • recognize various curriculum design models for gifted education;
  • apply curriculum design models to district curriculum for the purpose of development; implementation and evaluation of instruction for gifted students; and
  • analyze components of current school gifted programming and identify and evaluate models currently in use.
Information for the 2010 session will be available next summer.

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Fall Conference for Educators
Each fall, Center for Talent Development hosts a conference for educators, informing them of best practices in gifted education and inspiring them to strive toward mastery of their craft and better instruction and support for gifted students.
 

Fall 2009 Educator Conference
Using the Parallel Curriculum Model to Reshape Curricular Units

We appreciate your interest in the Using the Parallel Curriculum Model to Reshape Curricular Units conference to be hosted by Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University on October 17. Unfortunately, not enough people were able to attend this event, so we have had to cancel it. Please check back for future events and opportunities.

Past Conferences and Special Events for Educators

2008 Conference
Center for Talent Development hosted a workshop with Dr. Kimberley Chandler of the Center for Gifted Education at The College of William & Mary and Dr. Tamra Stambaugh, Director of Vanderbilt University’s Programs for Talented Youth. Attendees spent one-and-a-half days with these highly qualified consultants as they discussed curriculum models that promote high-level thinking in content areas and engage gifted learners. Presenters offered two different strands: one for teachers in grades 2 through 5 and one for teachers in grades 6 to 8. On Friday night, sessions focused on principles for the differentiation of curriculum and instruction for gifted learners. Saturday sessions will emphasize research-based practices in gifted education, specifically teaching models used in The College of William & Mary curriculum units. Participants explored the teaching models and student activities through demonstration and practice.
 

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Special Events
To serve the gifted population throughout the Midwest, Center for Talent Development staff attends many state gifted conferences, state award ceremonies, Illinois camp fairs, parent meetings and national educational conferences. Please check the CTD calendar for upcoming events. If you know of an event that CTD should consider attending, please email ctd@northwestern.edu.

 

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